In today’s text, Luke, by inspiration, presents one of the most remarkable events of our Lord’s earthly ministry. It is introduced with the statement, “And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings,” providing a connecting link to the recent past. Peter had confessed the tremendous truth that Jesus was the Christ of God (vs. 20). Immediately, however, the Lord had declared His impending journey to the Cross (vs. 22), and the disciple’s hearts must have been bewildered. How then could He fulfill His messianic mission? Yet, He definitely indicated that He would be exalted in glory and come with His holy angels (vs. 26). The mention of His glory forms the link to today’s text (vs. 27), and on this occasion Peter, James and John are privileged of God to see this manifestation of His glory – the glory of God (vv. 29, 32).In the Old Testament, Israel had been allowed to experience the visible symbol of God’s presence among them (Ex. 13:21) – pillar of cloud by day, pillar of fire by night. Israel’s leader, Moses, was shown the “afterglow” of God’s glory (33:23; 34:5-7). The cloudy pillar was seen as Moses communicated with God at the door of the Tabernacle (33:7-11). It filled the Tabernacle with His glory (40:34, 35), and later, the Temple (1 Kgs. 8:10). Sadly, however, the prophet Ezekiel saw the visible departing of God’s glory about 400 years later (Ch. 10-12) as Israel callously defiled the Temple with heathen worship, indicating their departure from God.Until New Testament days, no further visible symbol of God’s presence was seen. But, praise God for Luke 2:8, 9 and John 1:14! Praise Him for Luke’s record (Ch. 8, 9) displaying Christ’s glory as Lord of all and Messiah of God, culminating in this flashing forth of visible manifestation that God’s glory had returned!